For the first time in the playoffs, the Nanaimo Clippers will play do-or-die hockey.
The Clippers gave up a third-period lead and lost 5-2 to the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday night in B.C. Hockey League playoff action at Frank Crane Arena. It means that the Clippers’ next game will see them advance or be eliminated.
“I think we beat ourselves,” said Devin Brosseau, Clippers captain, after Friday’s loss. “I didn’t think we played very smart with the puck, even away from the puck at times. Our work ethic was a bit streaky.”
West Kelowna’s Kylar Hope scored the only goal of the first period as the Clippers were short-handed for a lot of the frame. In the second, the Clippers had an Edwin Hookenson goal disallowed, but not long afterward, Nolan Aibel tied things up and the Clippers had the better of the play the rest of the period.
Gavin Gould scored on a breakaway in the first minute of the third to give the home team the lead, but the game soon swung the other way.
“We needed to follow up with a few momentum shifts in their end and protect the puck and be smarter,” Brosseau said.
Instead, the Warriors forced defensive breakdowns and capitalized on opportunities.
“There were some little key moments in the game where it got away…” said Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach. “[We were] turning over pucks, not defending smartly. Just not playing as sharp as we’re capable of playing.”
Hope finished with two goals to lead the Warriors and Garrett Forster, Connor Sodergren and Quin Foreman were the other scorers. Matthew Greenfield made 38 saves for the win, while Evan Johnson made 37 saves in defeat.
Friday’s loss means that the Warriors and the Chilliwack Chiefs will play Sunday (April 10) in the Fraser Valley, with the winner advancing to the Fred Page Cup and earning home-ice advantage in that series. If the Chiefs lose, they visit Nanaimo on Tuesday, but if the Warriors lose, the Clippers will travel to play at West Kelowna on Tuesday.
“You don’t want to be too emotionally disappointed, because ultimately, everybody ended up with the same record,” Vandekamp said. “So we’re all just tied at this point.”
The coach said the team will regroup today, then practise Sunday as it prepares to play against a to-be-determined opponent in a to-be-determined location. Since the Clippers don’t know who they play, they’ll focus on their own game, Brosseau said.
“We can work on the details that we didn’t do very well in this game and focus on us…” he said. “I think we lost because of us; it was our fault. So if we can improve that, I think we’ll be able to put up a good fight and hopefully make our spot in the finals.”
Look for more Clippers coverage Monday at www.nanaimobulletin.com/sports.
GAME ON … The Clippers play Tuesday. The game could be against the Chiefs at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena, or in the Okanagan against the Warriors.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
